Shaun Wright-Phillips, a former winger for Manchester City, has predicted that Arsenal won't be competing for a top-four finish in the Premier League this year.

He predicts that Arsenal will finish higher than fourth place, leaving Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham to compete.

After winning five of their first six games, the Gunners have established themselves as the early pacesetters in the English top division.

After placing fifth the previous year, Mikel Arteta's team narrowly missed out on the Champions League.

Arsenal suffered their first setback of the season at Old Trafford earlier this month as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

Despite the loss, Mikel Arteta’s side remain top of the league ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

And Wright-Phillips cannot see the Gunners falling out of the top-four places.

Jurgen Klopp’s side, who won the title in 2020, are currently seventh in the table, six points behind Arsenal.

Wright-Phillips told Metro, “They[Arsenal] have built on that [their last season’s performance]with the signings they’ve made.”

He noted that the signing of the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City had given Mikel Arteta’s side depth.

If they can keep that consistency up, that will be a spot in the top four gone.

“Then it comes down to Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur fighting for that last spot,” he said.

Wright-Philips also thinks Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will retain the title this season with the help of their new striker, Erling Haaland.

According to him, Liverpool already have a place in the top three when they get up and running after a difficult start to the season.

Football activities, especially in the Premier League, are currently under suspension following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last week.